Occipital Plate With Angled Screw Opening

Abstract

A surgical implant includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a body and connector assemblies. The body includes a posterior surface and defines a first bore defining an acute angle with respect to a first axis that is orthogonal to the posterior surface. The connector assemblies are disposed on opposing lateral sides of the body. Each connector assembly is selectively rotatable relative to the body. The second portion includes a base extending in a cephalad direction from the first portion, and an extension extending in the cephalad direction from the base. The base defines second bores configured to receive respective bone screws. The extension defines a third bore. The first bore of the body and the third bore of the extension define a second axis. The second bores are defined along a third axis orthogonal to the second axis.

1 . An occipital bone plate comprising:
 a first portion including:   a body including a posterior surface, the body defining a first bore; and   a mount having an engaging surface;   a second portion including:   a base extending in a cephalad direction from the first portion and defining a second bore; and   an extension extending in the cephalad direction from the base and defining a third bore,   the first and third bores defining a first axis and the second bore defining a second axis orthogonal to the second axis; and   a connector assembly including a support poly-axially adjustable on the engaging surface of the mount.   
     
     
         2 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first bore defines a third axis at an acute angle with respect to an orthogonal axis to the posterior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly is configured for poly-axial movement through a cone of about 25 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 1 , further comprising two connector assemblies and two mounts. 
     
     
         6 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the mount defines a hole, the engaging surface protruding radially inward of the hole. 
     
     
         7 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly includes a housing defining a slot configured to receive a spinal rod, the support is configured to support the housing, and a nut configured to be coupled with the housing in order to couple the housing to the mount of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 7 , wherein the nut is configured to threadably engage the housing of the connector assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 7 , wherein the connector assembly further includes a radially deflectable retaining ring, at least a portion of the radially deflectable retaining ring configured to extend radially outward from a first circular groove defined in the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 9 , wherein the nut defines a second circular groove configured to receive the at least a portion of the radially deflectable retaining ring extending radially outward from the first circular groove of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 7 , wherein the support has an annular configuration, the support defining diametrically opposing recesses configured to receive the spinal rod. 
     
     
         12 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bores includes a lip configured to deform. 
     
     
         13 . An occipital bone plate comprising:
 a first portion having a first bore hole and a first slot; and   a second portion having a second bore hole and a second slot,   wherein the occipital bone plate is bendable along the slots located in the second portion.   
     
     
         14 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 13 , further comprising a connector assembly polyaxially engaged with a mount of the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 14 , wherein the connector assembly includes a slot for receiving a spinal rod. 
     
     
         16 . The occipital bone plate of  claim 13 , further comprising two connector assemblies polyaxially engaged with respective mounts of the first portion. 
     
     
         17 . A method of surgery comprising:
 bending an occipital bone plate, wherein the bending of the occipital bone plate occurs along a slot formed in either a first portion or a second portion of the occipital bone plate;   placing the bent occipital bone plate on an occipital bone;   inserting a first fastener through a first hole in the first portion and into the occipital bone; and   inserting a second fastener through a second hole in the second portion and into the occipital bone.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of attaching a spinal rod to the occipital bone plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the attaching step includes placing the spinal rod in a slot of a connector assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the placing step includes moving the connector assembly with respect to the occipital bone plate.